briggs



June 3 1924- s. BRIGGS POLE REVERSING SWITCH Filed Feb. 27 1915 2 ShuotB-Shfiflt 1 w, vwasazs Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES FATE OFF STEPHEN F. names, or MIILWAUKEE,

COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE. WISCONSIN, A CORPORATiON OF WISCONSIN.

POLE-REVERSING SWITCH.

Application filed February 27, 1815. Serial H 0. 10,888.

To a whom it may concern.

- Be it known that I, STEPHENF. Barons, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in .the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin; have invented new and useful Improvements in Pole-Reversing Switches, of whichthe following is a. tie scription,l reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention has 'for.its object to provide a. switch for controlling an electrical circuit, such as the ignition'circuit of a s engine, and so constructed that the direction 'lents.

of flow of current will be chaiiged by the successive operations of the switch so. that the tendency of, pitting the contact points at circuit may be broken tempoandhreakof an induction coil oi other contact; maker, will he neutralized b the current flowing in one direction and then in the other direction with the successive operations of the-switch.

Another object otxthe. invention is to incorporate such a pole reversing'switch as a part of a switch for-controlling other cir-. such as the circuit of a d name electric cults, machine usedafs-a generator "oi-charging 'a storage battery of an. automobile when driven "from the gas engine and used as a motor for turning the vide such a switch mechanism of a simple, yet durable and efiicient construction which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and otheiflohjects in view the invention consists in the pole reversing switch as herein claimed and'all equiva- Referring to -g, eaccoinpanying drawinfs l.-

i in which like chcters. of'reference in cate the same pa in the different views:

Fig. 1"is' a 'front view" ofa switch constructed in aocordanoejwith this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;-

Fig. 4 is a rear sectionalfview. on the limeof line of Fig. 3 with-the switch mits all! position; i K a view on the plane of ,crank shaft of. the gas engine forstartingth'e gas engine in operation,

1 Another object oft-he invention is to pro- Fig. 3 is a transversejsectional view there-' Fig. 6 is a front view of the switch base with the position of the pole reversing "switch contacts shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a detailview of the ratchet face of the pole reversing disk; 1

F ig. 8 is a view similar to Figih with all but a fra showing t is contact disk in its-bearing on the casing and on the insulated contact respectively;

Fig. 9 is a similar view with the'contact disk removed and showing'thelock for looking the switch in its oil position;

Fig.10 is a sectional view throu h the cylindrical switch member and showmg the plunger switch contact members carried thereby;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the manner of engagement of the pole changing switch contacts with two adjacent contact buttons; and,

Fig. 32 is-a diagramshowiug the 'wiring connections for a switch of this character;

wrsconsm, Assumes TO BRIGGS asmTTon ment of the; base removed, and

In these drawings 10 indicates,,a front 7 plate which is designed to Be let'into the dashof an automobile and forming: a cylindrical housing for the switch base .11- of insulating, material which elescopes therewith from the rear and .is held in place by means of counter sunk screws l2nsa -id screws threading into bosses 13 of the front plate. -The switch of this invention is of the type of switch coveredby' my co-pending'appli cation for switches, Serial N0., 837,669, dated May 11, 1914:, patented July 10, 1917,

No. 1.232.650. The base 11 is hollow. and

a: cylindrical switch this case is preferably of metal, instead of insulating material as before 'is held by screws lfi surrounded by insulating hushings to the back of a turning plate lfiand is contained within therecess of the base and is rotatable through on are of approximately 90; said turningpliite 16 having-a suitable g'uide seat in the front'plate 10 to member 14 which in permit of such movement, and' ca ing a.

projecting handle 17 by means of which the turning may be accomplished. A stop lug on the backfif'th turning movements 19 may be interposed between the t 16 and the switch member It to en a a .iotch 20 in the front plate idfo' 1ocing the switch mechanism in its-eff tion, the

i e turning plate 16 enga s. shoulders of the front plate '10 to limit't a of the switch. Y A- lock 1 turning" swivel-hossfihofsueh loebbearingthe keyhole through the front plate 10, ails1 shown in Fig. 1, to receive thckeynot s own.

s; pair-"of shouldered studs and 23 are set in openings providedfor them in the base 11, said studs originally projecting part way into the recess or cavity of the base, but later being turned or reamed out to conform with the cylindrical inner wzlll of the bascmto-iornz stationary contacts diametriopposite eachiother, 31nd nuts 24: and we ors 25 on the threaded projecting ends of'thestuds form binding for eonnec' tion with the armature o the motor gen- =eratgr ond the, storage batteryres tively. Another-stud 26, similar to the stu 22and desirabl somewhat smaller, is

positioned interme intoof the other studs and the nuts and washers. thereon form a -for connection with the shunt damn goithezmotor 'generabor.

An opening, 28 passes diametrically through theswitch member 14 undo-has a duet-spring, re ed switch contact memmrsfl) fittm t erein which are in the form of plugs sli ably mounted in the o ening and are electrically connected by a exible fiductor commonly known as a pigtail. e-contact members 29 are firmly secured to the ends of the flexible conductor; 30 .lLiIVlltg openings drilled longitudinally lher im flfi -which the ends of the conductor are inserted andby havin transverse openings drilled nearly to the ongitudinal open ings, leaving o thin partition of metal between -the.ppen1ngswhichis then struck with s1 unch at the edge thereof near the outer en of the contact member so as to drive the partit onunwardl us a tongue to bite into the yielding flexi 1e conductor, sis-covered m. co-pending application meme-w. This means of connecting" the, contact memhers-on the ends of the flexible conductor formsn strong mechanical connection firmly connecting the parts and'nssuringa an electrim connection of low resistance'between tdieui. The flexible conductor is surrounded by pieoil' spring- 32' bearing is"; its ends 'agumst the-contact members 29 and forcing themln closetontact with the inner walls 0 the-base and particularly'with the stat onary contacts'22 and 28gto form an .eleetrzcalconnectioir between them "in the stiutin or on pwition'of-the switch. In

order 1; at the contact members 28 may not .fit too finely w thin the o 'ning 28'tho coil 32 1s preierably nt or 'bowed' at itsmiddle portion so as to bear against the walls oitheopenings' a f instead oi esspringl OOBM-fll brush connectgon from the. contact; members 29 and stud- 2 as before, provision is cmndeg for $111 atlas studgfi omthecas ng' dvhen provide sition. For this a'metal disk iii interposed between theswitcli'member 14 and the lock 19 with a sheet oi insulating material 76 between it and the switch memwells of the base 11 and adapted in the closed position of the switch to engage the contact. stud 26; This serves to establish aground connection for thelcontact stud 26, y

for the arm 79 of disk 75 en 'agedtherewith has electrical connection-wit the casing by the s ing tongues 77 of the disk bearm on the an @318 of the front plate whic is Jwitha suitably ground connection. not ShOW'Il-r" "In the center of the base 11 is an upstandin lpost or stud-81 s rrounded. by four even y spaced contact buttons 82, 83, 84 and 85 embedded in; the insulating composition ofirthe base the contact button 82 being connected b wire 87 withco'ntact stud .22, and Contact utton 84 beingconnected with a binding post 86, while the other two contact buttons'83 and 85 form binding posts.

il'boosel-y mounted on the post 81 is a. disk 88, of insulating material having sf ratchet connection with the switch. member .14 so as to mov'e'therewith only in -the movement of the latter toward its-on osition. Such ratchet engagement is utter ed by $861188 of radially disposed ratchet teeth 89 formed on the bottom of the switch member 14 around an opening casable of receifiag the end of the. post 81. on from a metal disk 91 which is secured to the amp 0f. the insulating disk 88 by having arms 92-. with their ends passing therethrough and bent overon the other side. The ratchet disk' 88 has a ratchet=conteet err gagement with the buttons 8285 by means of, pair of oppositely placed spring: contact members 93 which arecurved' todoilow thepat-hofrota'tion and are secured at their 94; passing throughthe disk and turned over on the-other side thereof, and also by tongs 95 entering openings in the disk without passing entirely 'therethrough; Thus the spring contactmembers 93 are carried 'by the disk 88 but are insulated thereby from the disk 01 and its connection with the switch member 14. Each of the spring contongue for hearing on the heads of theccn- 1 tact buttons, but further has ampplementarlratchet teeth 90 cut.

forward endzs'to the disk 88 by projections "tact members 93 itself constitutes a spring spring tongue 96 cutthereiromand bent downwardly to-engagethe head of the contact button in adranoefof the one engaged by the end of the contact member 937. The

free :ends of thez'spring contact members 93 and their supplemental spring tongues 96 by engaging the edges of the heads of the contact buttons constitutea ratchet connec tion permitting the disk 88 to turn only in the one direction so that with eachsucceeding operation of the switch 'from the off position to the on position the disk 88 is given a one quarterturn. As each contact member 93 contacts with two adjacent contact buttons each contact bnf/tonwill be connected thereby, first with the'contact button on one side thereof, and then with the contact button on the other-side thereof to reverse the polarity'of the currentflow through a circuit connected between the binding posts 87.

In connecting up the switch the binding post of contact Stud 22 is oonnectedby a wire 97 with one terminal of a generator armature 98 whose other terminal is grounded at 99, and the binding post of' contact stud 23 is connected by a wire 100 with one terminal of a storage battery 101 whose other terminal is grounded at 102. This last mentioned binding post of contact stud 2-3 is also connected with a Wire 1013' forming one line wire of an electric lightin circuit including electric lamps 104, the

other line wire thereof. being grounded at "105. -'I, he shunt field winding 106 of the generator has one end connected with ,the

- same armature terminal as wire 97 and the other end connected "by a wire 10} with contact stud 26 so that when the spring contact arm 79 engages this contact stud the generator circuit is complete" from" the grounded armature terminal thereof through the armature and its other terminal through the shunt field winding 106. wire 107T, en gaged contacts 26 and 79 and disk to the grounded front plate 10 indicated oh the diagram by the ground connection 108,, The

binding post 85 is connected by aiwire 109 with the primary winding 1'10 of'an induction coil whose movable armature 111 serves to make and break the circuit theretliroiigh by cooperating with. a ixed contact point 112 which isconne'cted bya wired-1'3, with binding post 83. Thebinding postBfS which i connected ,with. contac't"-s'tud 84'has a wire connecting it with the ground 3131420.. The secondary winding llt of the induction coil has one terminal grounded at 115 and the other terminal connected by a win! 116 with the arm of a' distributor 117 driv- 7 en by the engine to contact successively with stationary contactpoi'nts 118 connected with the various cylinders of t fie en ine.

the respective groundedf spfark p]ugs 111 9 of In that positimbof the thiih rererse the dirccti its parts are shown in the diagram, besides the generator circuit being" complete through the engagement of contacts 26 and 79' the working circuit through the electric lamps or other clectroreceptive devices and the battery charging circuit 'are also complete through the engagement of the t0lltacts 2'9 with the contact studs 22 and 23 respectively. Starting with the grounded contact stud wire 8?,oon-tact button 82, spring contact 93, contact button 85, wire 109; primary winding 110 of induction coil,

armature terminal of the generator the storterminal includes said armature. wire '97,

armature llL'stationary contact 112, wire 11.3. contact button 83.'spring contact93, contact button 84, binding post 86, and ground 120. The circuit for the induced current of the secondary winding of. the

induction coil may be traced from' the grounded terminal 115 through the secondary winding 114, wire 116, distributor arm 117, one of the contacts-118' and its spark plug 119 to the ,m'oundxf I T 'At 'times when the generator-is not op-' crating these various circuitslmay be supplied with current 'from the storagclbattery" thrmigh the switch. cdnnectiodi as described, and the battery currentfig'thust directed through the generator-wilt cause it to operate as a-motor'ifor starting'fthe' gas engines W'hen the switch is position the generator-and ignition-irifcuits an: interrupted since ,thegcnerator"shunt field circuit isbroken by the disengagement? of contacts =26 and- 79 rendering .the genorator ineffective for supplying current any purpose, and'thc storagebattery is 'dls-i ronnectedfr'om all circuits exceptfthe work circuit 50 that itis inefiectivefor causing ignition? Thus' with the switch' locked. m

stomg'e'i-battru; may "be a used for lighting.

'butneither'the storage battery nor'thevgem orator niay be causerfto produce-"ignition for starting "the engine, and; the automobile effectively a locked against theft W ith the next closing of thei' switchto its on position the various circuits will be restored as before, with; the exceptimrthat'thespring canteen-members 93 wllllbe advanced a quarterturn so as to connect contact' but- -tons BB-and 83 on the'ono hand and contact biirtonsflt and 85bit the other, and

aspect,

rent'through the primary circuit'of the induction coil.\ With this new position of the switch the primary circuit of heinduction coil may be traced from the grounded terminal 99 of the generator armature through said armature 98, wire 97. contact stud '22, wire 87, contact button 82. spring contact member 93, contact button 83, wire 113, stationary contact 112, armature 111, primary winding 110, wire 109, contact button 85, spring contact member 93, contact button 84, binding post 86 to ground 120, -VVith each succeeding closing of the switch a reversal willhe made in the direction of how of current through the primary circuit of the induction coil from that which prevailed during the preceding connection, and thus an) tendency to produce pitting of contact points during one connection will be neutralized or oil'set by the opposite tendency due to the change in direction, of How of current through the primary circuit of the induc= tion coil during the succeeding connection. The contact points will therefore be kept free from pitting and will remain in an operative condition for a greater length of time than would be the case if no provision were made for the reversal of current by the pole changing feature. This pole changing feature is not confined in use to this particular switch mechanism but is applicable to any switch having an oscillating or reciprocating motion which may be convertex-l by ratchet means-to a rotary motion fofthe pole changing member.'

The specific details of construction, while not necessary to the invention in its broader are very meritorious as being duand highly efficient for the purpose i rable =while being inexpensive to manufacture.

- What I claim as new and desire to secure by-Detters Patent is:

11. A switch: for. controlling the ignition Y circuit of a' gas a 'ne, com rising in combination with switc means or'onening and closing the ignition circuit, means for reversinc the polarity of the ignition circuit, said pole reversing means having a ratchet con nection with the switch means.

2. A. pole reversing switch, comprising a casing containing switch contacts, "an oscil lating switch member mounted in the casing to engage the contacts for completing an electrical circuit, and a pole changing means ha ing aratchet connection with the switch thereof means to be operated by themovements for reversing the polarity of said circuit.

3; A circuit controlling and pole changing switch, comprising a casing containing switch contacts, an oscillating switch'menb be! within the casing adapted to en age and disengage the switch contacts to c ose and open; an electrical circuit, contact buttons esa-e45 \''ll7llll\ the casing connected with said aloe ,gago the contact buttons, ratchet'means for permitting the pole changing member to rotats only in one direction, and ratchet means between the pole chanfilg member and the oscillating switch mem r. I

4. A circuit controlling and 'pole changing switch, comprising a casing containing switch contacts, an oscillating switch member adapted to engage and disengage the switch contacts to close and open an electricsl circuit, contact buttons within the-casing connected with said electrical circuit, a rotatably mounted pole changing member, sprin contacts carried thereb 'or engaging the contact buttons am? forming a ratchet connection therewith for permitting the pole changing member to turn only. in one direction, and aratchet-connection between the pole changing member and the oscillat-ing switch member. i

A circuit controlling and pole changing switch, comprising a casing containing switch contacts, an oscillating switch mem her within the casing adapted to engageand free ends engaging the contact buttons to form a ratchet connection therewith permitting the pole changing member. toturn only in one direction, spring tongues projecting from said spring contacts to engagetheoontact buttons in advance of the-contact but" tons engaged by the ends of the sp'ring contacts, and a ratchet connection between the pole changing member and the switch member.

6. A circuit controlling and pole. changing switch, comprising a cylindrical easing of insulating material, switch contacts-contained therein, an oscillating switch member within the casing adapted to engage and disengage the switchcontacts, an electrical circult controlled thereby, contact buttons in the bottom-of the casing andconneoted with the electrical circuit, an upstandingzpost in the bottomoi the casing, an insulating disk rotatably mounted on the'post and forming a pole changing member, spring'contacts secured to the bottom of the insulating disk and engaging the contact buttons and form- 'ing a ratchet connection therewith for permitting the insulating disk to turn-only in oneq' direction, a platemountedon the-top of the insulating disk and having ratchet teeth bent uiiwa-rdly .thercfrom,"and ratchet teeth formed on the bottom of the oscillating switch member to be engaged by the ratchet teeth of the plate for turningthe pole chang- I casing. and a grounding contact arm arried by the snitch member and adapted to engage the generat r shunt field contact when the switch iucnibrr is in position to connect the first lucntioni-ll contacts.

S. in a snitch, casing, contact buttons projecting from a wall of the casing, a suitably operated member, and yielding coutacls t hcrcon engaging the contact buttons to close circuit connections and to form a ratchet preventing the increment of the member in one direction.

9. In a switch, a casing, contact buttons projecting from a wall of the casing, a suitably operated incn'lber, and spring contacts on said member each engaging a pair of contact buttons to establish clcctriru ('|lll -'ection between them and to form a ratchet lie-ans for preventing the moveuient oi the. member in one direction.

10. in a switch, a casing having contact buttons projecting from a wall thereof, a movably mounted switch member within the casing, spring contacts carried thereby with their free ends engaging the contact buttons to form a ratchet connection therewith permitting the swileh member to move only in one direction, and spring tongues projecting from said spring contacts to engage-contact buttons next to the contact buttons engagiul by the ends of the spring contacts.

11. In a switch, a cylindrical casing of insulating material, swtcl'i contacts flush with the inner surface of the casing. a cylindrical switch member movably mounted within the casing, spring pressed plunger contacts carried by the switch member and hearing against the wail ol' the casing and a ainst llie switch contacts, and a contact disk secured to the end of the switch incur her and having a spring arln extending lietween the switch member and the wall of the casing and adapted to engage one of the switch contacts.

12. In a. switch, a hollow cylindrical casingof insulating material, switch contacts flush with the inner wall thereof, a. movably mounted cylindrical switch member within the casing, plunger contacts carried by the switch member and bearing against the wall of the casing and against the switch c0n tacts, there being a recess in the edge of the switch member between the plunger contacts, a Contact disk secured to the end of the switch member and insulated there from and provided with a spring arm ex- 05 tending into, the recess and bearinga ainst the wall of the casing to contact with one of the switch contacts.

13. In a switch, a hollow cylindrical easing of insulating material, switch contacts flush with the inner so ace thereofla metal front plate secured to he casing, ah'cylindrieal switch member movably mounted on the front plate and located within thecasing, plunger contacts on the switch member 7 bearing against the inner walls of the casing and against the switch contacts, a. contact disk secured to the end of the switch member and insulated therefrom and rovided with spring fingers bearing against the switch front plate to make electrical connection therewith, there being a recess in the edge of the switch member, and aspring arm on the contact diskprojecting into the recess and bearing against the inner wall of the casing and against, one of the switeh contacts.

14. A circuit controlling switch eomprising in combination a. switch means for opening and closing a circuit, a pol'reversing means for reversing the polarity of a,circuit, and operative connections from saidswitch means to said pole reversing means.

In testimony whereof, I alfix my sigma-- ture, in presence of two witnesses.

KATHERINE Hour. 

